Headquarters Second Brigade, Second Div.,
Fifteenth A. C,
Wa1nut Hills, Miss., May 25, 1863.
I wrote you a hurried note yesterday to give you all at home
assurance of my safety. I am to-day in receipt of your letters of May [sic]
29th, enclosing one from wife advising of the death of Judge Piatt, and of May
5th, and from Helen of May 10th. I promised you yesterday full details of march
and fight, and for convenience (time being precious and opportunity for writing
scant), substitute diary of one of my clerks, which gives the main facts, and
enclose for reference a map to accompany same, upon which route of army can be
traced. At close of diary you will perceive I have been relieved from my
command. I send copy of correspondence between General Sherman and myself which
ensued upon reception of the order, the only explanation I have to offer. I
premise the same by a copy of the order assigning General Lightburn.
I proposed to General Sherman either of three courses, to resign,
to ask to be mustered out, or for leave of absence. He declines to entertain
either. I have indicated my intention to refuse the command of my regiment. I
am not yet ordered to duty, and so the matter stands. Before you receive this
letter we shall probably have reduced Vicksburg, or have had another very
bloody fight with the enemy in our rear. In the event of a battle my course
will be plain; meanwhile I shall remain quiescent as circumstances will admit.
Our late engagements have been very bloody, our losses heavy, the enemy must
have suffered hugely in killed and wounded. I enclose a sketch of Vicksburg.
In respect to the order for consolidation of regiments, a
healing order has been published by the President leaving the enforcement of
the same discretionary with corps and department commanders. The generals have
declined to permit it to apply to me, so I am held. My services will not be
dispensed with till my body becomes useless. I have no option in the matter.
Therefore you perceive I am unable to follow your advice if I would. I cannot
resign. They will not muster me out. They will not grant me furlough.
Don't give yourself one moment's uneasiness about me. I am
proud as the black knight with his visor down. My honor, thank God, is bright;
no stain on my flag, though it is rent and torn and well-nigh riddled with
balls. I will send on a copy of my official report and will write again very
shortly.
The land has been devastated, desolated; the sufferings of
the people, particularly the women, are terrible. Ladies in Vicksburg are now
living in caves and holes in the ground to protect them from the unceasing fall
of shot and shell from our guns. They disobeyed Pemberton's order and would not
leave the doomed city. They could not believe we were so near at home. Their soldiers
are reduced to one fourth rations.
SOURCE: Walter George Smith, Life and letters of
Thomas Kilby Smith, p. 297-9
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